Things are starting to feel festive in my household. The tree went up on the 1st December (the earliest it’s ever been up in our house) and I’ve managed to purchase three quarters of my Christmas gifts for friends and family. This is possibly the most organised I’ve ever been. Must be getting old.

To kick off the first of my Christmas posts, I’ll be reviewing this beautiful Christmas Hamper from Prestige Gifts:

I enjoy receiving a hamper as a present because they’re a gift of multiple things and usually contain something you haven’t tried before. In mine, I received:

Pretty much everything ticked the right boxes for me, apart from the marshmallows which aren’t vegetarian but these were happily received by other family members. And, there was plenty of other things that are top of my list such as the chocolate and the olives.

The dark chocolate with orange shortbread has been a new discovery for me. I’ve never been a fan of shortbread as I didn’t like the texture and felt it was bland, but nontraditional varieties seem to be more palatable.

I’ve been drinking the English tea most mornings but kept a few in reserve for the Christmas break as it’s really nice but quite scarce now with only ten bags in the box.

In all, this is something I’d like to receive and to give as a gift because it introduces you to new flavours and brands you wouldn’t usually find at your local supermarket. Plus, the produce you receive is something that you can snack on throughout the days or over a holiday. I know we’ll all be using the oatcakes for the cheeseboard which is something we’re really looking forward to. Who doesn’t like a cheeseboard at Christmas?

If you’re thinking of gifting someone you know with a Prestige Hamper, take a look at their Christmas Hampers range. There’s many combinations and varieties to chose from including port and cheese, fresh deli hampers, chocolate and wine and much more. With price ranges to suit all budgets.

Last Sunday I met with the #mkbloggers at The Wheatsheaf Pub and Grill in Bow Brickhill – a pub I have passed many times and always wanted to go to. We headed to the pub for our summer social and it was nice to see everyone’s faces again. The last time we had seen each other was at The Goldsmithy Masterclass in Fenny Stratford.
The interior is like a millennial has designed it, which isn’t a criticism at all because I absolutely loved it. There are many hues of grey, many plants and hipster style lighting (very instagramable). Something else that caught my eye as soon as I arrived was the gin station. Not sure if this is just a summer thing but you’re able to ‘pimp your gin’ with a variety of fruits.
So with drinks in tow we sat down at our table which looked delightful by the way – many thanks to the staff who decorated the table with cute flags and plants.

The starter – An Artichoke and Spinach Soup

Now, those two words probably put most people off: artichoke AND spinach, nah, surely not. Yes. Absolutely yes. I am one of those strange people who love all vegetables, which is handy being a vegetarian, and this combination was delicious. The bread with oil was a nice touch and luckily not too filling before the main.

The Main – Beetroot and Apple Vegan Burger, Basil Mayo, Skinny Fries and a Sweetcorn Slaw

Again, all of this veg mixed with fruit is my absolute dream. The burger had so many flavours going on which complemented each other well and the texture was great. It wasn’t trying to be meat which I feel is a mistake some chef’s make with vegan food. It was patty, and a fresh one at that.
But the standout flavour for me was the basil mayo. I couldn’t believe it was vegan and it was a real simple twist to a sauce. I wish I had asked for a pot to dip my skinny fries in but thought I would get a few strange looks. Maybe next time?!
Overall the meal was one of those you think about for the next week and wish you were eating that instead of what you have cooked yourself. So yes, I did miss the food. I’ll be going back for sure and taking a few other interested parties who were salivating over my insta stories.
I left well-fed.
*just so you’re aware, we were offered the meal for free in exchange for writing an honest review. All of these words and opinions are my own.

Nestled within 80 acres of glorious landscape you’ll find Chicheley Hall. I had no idea this grade 1 listed building existed until this year but as I made the approach, this stunning mansion based just outside of Newport Pagnell commands attention.

You may have seen from my Instagram last month that I (and a friend) were invited to stay here for the evening. As I really enjoy looking around historic houses, I quickly accepted the invitation.

The mansion has 48 individually refurbished rooms, carefully manicured gardens, a restaurant, a bar and a resident peacock called George, who I was told sometimes wanders in and makes himself at home. That was the deal breaker for me; as soon as I heard George’s calls I knew I was going to enjoy my stay.

The building itself is something you would expect to see in a period drama. The impressive baroque facade is both dramatic and quintessentially twee. Which is why it’s been selected as a film location for many well-known tv adaptations and films such as Pride and Prejudice and Black Beauty.

The interior is light and airy with very high ceilings on the ground floor and a large sweeping oak staircase leading up to the first floor.

Each space has it’s own unique character with dark solid wood walls in the breakfast room as well as tall marble pillars lining the impressive hall where wedding receptions are held. This room is the most spectacular, with plenty of natural light and period features.

The Bedroom: The Appleton Superior Suite

I stayed in the Appleton Suite for the night. The room had an upside down lock which was fiddly to open but only added to the charm of the place. I opened the door to a bright, period style bedroom with tall ceilings and two gorgeous sash windows which looked out over the gardens and lake.

The furniture was in-keeping with the date of the building but also had individual touches, as well as all of your mod cons like a TV and hot drink facilities, including free wifi should you need to do any work (or ‘gram).

The bed made me feel like a princess – it was literally the comfiest bed I’ve ever slept in (and I’ve stayed in Westin hotels!). Even with a few gin and tonics I slept all through the night (a difficult feat for me these days) and woke to the sound of George’s calls at a very reasonable hour, I might add.

At first we did have trouble finding the bathroom but that was only because the doorway was disguised as a wall panel. Again all of these features add to the rooms character and made the experience all the more exciting.

Speaking of the bathroom, this was like five star luxury. Everything was totally modern with large marble effect tiling on the walls and floor. There was even complimentary toiletries which I enjoyed under the large shower head and felt refreshed.

The Grounds

But before I went to bed, we spent the evening exploring the grounds. The groundskeeper is definitely kept busy with the fruit and vegetable garden as well as tending to the trees that lined the pathway to the back of the house.

I couldn’t have asked for a better evening; the sun was shining and it was warm enough to sit outside in the garden and enjoy a glass of prosecco. The perfect way to finish off a stressful week.

I strolled down to the lake at the side of the mansion which had a resident swan. The grounds and the house are just so peaceful and tranquil. I can see why so many people get married here.

The Dining Room: Dinner and Dessert

Dinner and breakfast were both served in the intimate dining room. I adored this room the most as there were so many paintings watching over you and the large sash windows brought in a warm and delicate summer evening’s light.

All of the tables were neatly set for dinner with a a cute vase of freshly cut flowers.

We skipped the starter (even though they sounded delicious) and went straight in to the mains. Being the carb fiends that we are, we both selected gnocchi with feta, tomato and peas.

I’m not lying when I say my thoughts often drift back to this meal. Usually during work hours just before lunch time… it was so GOOD!

For dessert we opted for a homemade vanilla cheesecake, summer fruit cooli and a scoop of vanilla ice cream from the daily specials menu. Again, this didn’t stick around for very long.

Tummies well and truly full, we retreated to the lounge area and started on the gins. The room had an inviting fireplace and decor. This was the perfect place to wind down after a full on week and an evening of exploring.

Overall, this is the grandest place I have ever had the pleasure of staying at. When someone ‘puts a ring on it’ this will definitely be up there in my top places to have my wedding. The food, the atmosphere and the location were complimentary and yet still hit me with the wow factor at each turn. I can’t wait to go back for a longer break.

Have you been to Chicheley Hall? I’d love to hear about your experience.